Rotary type can opener



N0v. 19, 1946. R, E, MCLEAN ROTARY TYPE CAN OPENER Filed Dec. 5, 194s" Hull/ui INVENTOR. Rober-z" E Mc can A ttor-neg Patented Nov. 19, 1946 UNITED STATES` PATENT OFFICE Application December 3, 1943, Serial No. 512,794

Claims.

This invention relates generally to the class of cutlery and more particularly relates to implements designed for the opening of sealed metallic receptacles, such as tin cans and the like,` the present application being based upon and setting forth certain novel improvements over the structures disclosed in my prior Patents No. 2,287,442 of June 23, 1942, No. 2,294,507 of September 1, 1942, and 2,314,506 of March 23, 1943.

An object of the present invention is to provide in a can opener of the type employing a rotary can driving wheel as herein disclosed, a novel and improved escapement mechanism between an operating crank and a thrust element actuating arm wherein such escapement is effected more quickly and smoothly and with the vexpenditure of less force or effort ,than is possible with the escapement mechanisms disclosed in the prior patents referred to.

The rotary can openers of the stated prior patents and of the present application employin association with a cutter and a can rim en- -`gaging and driving wheel which is Vrotated by means of a suitable type of crank, a thrust means for eiiecting relative movement between the cutter and the driving wheel, with mechanism for cooperatively coupling the crank means l with the means for effecting the stated relative movement between the wheeland cutter, when therank is turned in adesired direction, iso .as

Yto effect shifting ,of the cantowards the cutter to bring about penetration of the canrhead lby `the cutter andthe cutting away of the head or ing means is intermittently, operated upon tuming of the crank and in the present case certain embodiments'of an improved and novel escape- `ment mechanism are shown whereby' the desired coupling of the handle with the .means for proiside of a further embodiment of the escapement,

-the shifting of the can away from the cutter ducing the stated relative movement between the wheel and cutter, is'accomplished until the limit of suchmovement is reached, because of the improved construction, the coupling will be automatically released or disengaged with a minimum of eiort to permit continued free move-A ment of the crank for the operation of the driving wheel.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description of the same proceeds and theinvention will be 'best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with 2 the accompanying drawing, it being understood, however, that the invention is not to be considered as limited by the specific illustration or description but that minor changes and modifications may be made therein` so long as such changes and modifications are within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a view in side elevation of the righthand side of an embodiment of the escapement mechanism which is adapted to be used in association with any one of the several forms of rotary drive wheel can opener structures in my prior patents hereinbeiore referred to.

Fig. 2 is a View in front elevation of the mechanism of Fig. V1. g

Fig.3 is a view in elevation of the right-hand s ide of another embodiment of the escapement, parts being broken away.

Fig. 4 is a view in `front elevation of the Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of the right-hand `portions being broken away.

Fig. 6 is a view in front elevation of the ein-'- i bodiment shown in Fig. 5.

4Figure 7 nis a view in irontV elevation of one form Vof my rotary drive wheel type can opener,

`showing the .application offthe escapement shown V,iinligures `l and V2.

Referringfnow more particularly tothe drawing, Figures'l and 2 'illustrate one embodiment of the improved escapement which is designed to be used in `association with any of the several designs vof can openers shown ents previously referred to.

I t is contemplatedto use any ofthe various embodiments of the escapement with any of the different -forms of top `construction illustrated in .my prior 4Patents 2,287,442; 2,294,507 and In Figures 1 and 7 the reference numeral Ic indicates an elongated body plate which is secured to a supporting member 2, which is de,

signed to be attached to a suitable lwall bracket,

' not shown,`so as to dispose the body vplate in upright positionwhen set up for use.

A type of wall bracket designed particularly for use in association with my several forms of can opener, is illustrated in my pending application Serial No. 484,626.

At its upper end the body plate Ic is shaped to provide theI laterally oiset shoulder 3 which extends across the left-hand sideof the plate and above this shoulder the body plate is shapec` vin my prior lpatto provide a head 4 which comprises the inclined side wall 5, the laterally extending top 6 and the depending spring arm l. which is in spaced opposed relation to the wall 5. The wall 5 and the arm l have alined bearing openings 8 and 9 through which is extended a bearing sleeve l which is held against rotation. Extending through this sleeve is a cutter wheel shaft i2 which carries the cutting wheel i4 and between this cutting wheel and the adjacent wall 5 there.

ls supported, upon the shaft l2, the idler wheel i3, against which the edge of the rim of a can C bears when being turned during the operation of cutting out the head of the can.

The body plate has formed therein just below the shoulder 3, the elongated longitudinally extending elliptical slot l5 in which is tted the circular collar it. This collar has turning movement in the slot and also longitudinal movement therein and it carries, and has extending therethrough, the coupling sleeve il which, upon the side of the plate nearest the cutting wheel, passes through and is secured to a thrust element, in the form of an eccentric wheel i8. The periphery of this eccentric wheel contacts the overlying shoulder t.

At its other end the coup 'ng sleeve il is seicured in the laterally offset upper end portion it oi an escapement carrying arm 2te, hereinafter more specically described.

Disposed across the side of the body plate ic )directly beneath the eccentric wheel |8 and having contact with the lower peripheral portion thereof, is a yleldable arm 2| which forms an integral continuation of a relatively wide lower or underlying portion 22 which is in the form of a plate secured between the body |c and the supporting member 2.

The coupling sleeve l1, which joins together the plate ofthe escapement unit, the sliding collar l5 and the eccentric wheel I8 forms a bearing for a shaft 23. This shaft extends at one end beyond the eccentric wheel and carries a milled edge driving wheel 2li which is disposed directly below the idler wheel I3 and, when in raised or operative position, has its top edge in overlapping relation with the lowermost portion of the cutting edge of the wheel i4, upon the inner side of such wheel, whereby to eiect the turning of the can C, through the engagement of the top flange or rim ofthe can between the wheel 24 and the idler i3. The head of the can which is punctured by the edge of the cutting wheel, may then be cut out by rotating thecan through the rotation of the'driving ,wheel 2li,Y Y with respect to the cutter wheel.

The shaft 23 extends a substantial distance to the right of the body lc, where it has secured to its right hand end, the operating crank handle 25, the upper end of which handle is maintained in the desired spaced relation with respect to the upper end portion of the escapement unit plate 20c, by a spacing sleeve 26 which may extend through the couplingrsleeve |1.

As vpreviously stated the upper end portion of the escapement arm 20c is offset, thereby providing the shoulder 21 which is perpendicular to the length of the arm and the body of the arm below this shoulder is widened to have the rearwardly extending portion 66 which is bordered by the inwardly extending flange 61 which passes part way across the lower edge of the arm-forming the forwardly facing stop edge 68. In this escapement the arm plate carries an inwardly extending keeper stud 69 and below @his the arm 20c is verticalas shown, assumes a sub-y stantially horizontal position.

The forward end of the trigger link 12 carries a pivot 13, to one end o f which is secured an end of the upwardly extending latch finger 14 the upper end of which finger has its forward edge notched or cut out as indicated at 15 to receive a corner of the keeper stud 69 which is of rectangular cross section as shown.

Integral with the forward end of the link 12 is the depending trigger 16 which extends below the lower end edge of the arm 2te. The downward swinging of the link l2 and consequently the rearward swing of the trigger is limited by the stop @t of the arm flange. The latch oscillates upon the pivot t3 and it will be readily seen that upon clockwise rotation of the crank handle to bring the trigger finger against the rear edge of the trigger, the application of forward pressure to the escapement mechanism carrying arm 2te, when the arm is in the hanging position shown, will force the latch against the immovable stud 'ld and thus cause the upper end of the latch to slip out of contact with the keeper stud t@ thereby allowing the trigger 16 to swing in a clock-wise direction a sumcient distance to escape from the trigger nger carrled by the handle. Upon reverse movement of the handle the trigger finger will engage the forward edge of the trigger 16 and swing the arm 20c in a counter-clockwise direction so as to release a can held between the driving wheel and the cutter wheel and at the same time due to the downward swinging of the trigger link l2 the latch finger 14 will move to a position where it may again receive the adjacent corner of the keeper stud 69 in the notch 15.

Figures 3 to 6 inclusive illustrate the embodiments of the escapement wherein the latch element is pivotally attached to the arm and has a detachable coupling with the trigger rather than being pivotally connected to the trigger as illustrated in Figure 1. In Figures 3 and 4 the .body plate is designated lg and the arm is designated 20d. Upon the body lg adjacent the forward edge is the stop pin |45. The arm 20d carries a pivot pin |41 upon which is pivotally mounted, between the arm and the body lplate ig, the hanging 'latch finger |48 which extends belowthe stop |46 as shown. The lower end of this arm is notched at its forward edge as indicated at |49 and the armis normally urged to Aswing forwardly by a suitable spring such as .edge of which is designed for'engagement in the notch |49 at the lower end of the latch finger. This link |52 carries, adjacent its Vforward end, the depending trigger |54, which extends below the lower edge of the arm 20d as shown to be engaged by the trigger nger carried by the handle of the cutter.

The stop pin ,|55 lies upon the inner side o! the arm 20d' above the link |52 and limits the upward swinging of this link and the trigger |54.

In the embodiment shown in Flgures and 6 the body plate is'designated Ih and the arm carrying the esoapement mechanism is designated 20e. The trip pin for the latch linger is indicated at |48a, being supported upon the body as in the preceding construction while the pivot for the latch iinger is indicated as Illa and is supported upon the ann 20e and suspends the latch linger |48a upon the inner side of the arm as shown. 4 y l The forward edge of the arm 20e vat the lower end carries the inwardly turned stop :linger |5111. LA corresponding stop finger |51 is integral with and extends inwardly `from the lowerl edge of the arm 20d of the structure shown in Figure 4.

The trigger link, trigger and the latch linger engaged part thereof are, inthis construction, formed of a single length of material, the link portion being designated |52 a and being turned at one end to forman eye |58 through which the pivot pin |5|a, carried by the lower end of the arm, extends.v The trigger is designated |5Ia andmerges with the upwardly extending portion |59 which in turn merges with the horizontal forwardly projecting ear o-r tip |60 which engages across the stop |51a to limit the downward swinging movement of this unit. 'I'he corner formed between the parts |59 and |60 engages in the notch llaa at the lower end of the trigger finger. 'I'he spring element |50a engages the latch finger and normally urges it forwardly so that a. secure connection will be maintained between the nger and the trigger.

It is believed that the operation of the escapements shown in Figures 3 to 6 inclusive will be readily apparent in the light of the description given in connection with the preceding embodiment of the escapement.

Iclaim:

1. A rotary type can opener comprising a body, a cutter carried by the body, a Vrotary can driving Wheel supported on the body for movement relative to the cutter, a crank for turning the wheel, a thrustmeans for effecting relative movement between the wheel and cutter, an arm connected with said thrust means for oscillatory movement around the axis of turning for the crank, a trigger link carried by and extending substantially transversely of the outer end of the arm, a trigger carried by the link and extending radially beyond the outer end of the arm, a latch iinger pvotally attached at one end to said link and extending substantially longitudinally of the arm, a. keeper member carried by thev arm and adapted for operativel connection with the free end of said latch nger for opposing oscillation of the trigger link, a trip member carried by the body in the path of movemen't o-f said latch linger for effecting shifting of the latch iinger from connection with the keeper, and means carried by the crank for engagement -with the trigger upon turning of the crank whereby rotation of the arm and crank as a unit is eii'ected, said trigger being released from the crank carried means upon disengagement of the latch iinger from said keeper.

2. In a rotary type can opener including a cutter, a rotary can driving wheel movable relative to the cutter, a crank for turning the Wheel and a thrust means for eiecting relative movement between the wheel and the cutter; an oscillatable arm operatively coupled with said ter, a rotary can driving wheel 6 thrust means to actuate the thrust means, a trigger comprising a relatively long body disposed adjacent to thearm toextend transversely thereof and having an end pivoted to the arm at one side of the longitudinal center of the arm.

lthe trigger oscillating vertically on the arm, means carried by the crank for connection with the trigger for effecting movement of the arm and crank together as a unit through a predeterin a circular path, a, relatively long iinger extending longitudinally of the arm upon the opposite side of said center from the trigger pivot and movably supported for connection with the trigger to maintain the trigger in a position transversely of the arm whereby to maintain connection between the trigger and the crank, and means acting after a. predetermined degree of unitary movement voi' the trigger carrying arm and crank, to effect disconnection o1' the trigger from the crank carrying means, permitting continued movement of the crank only.

3. In a rotary type can opener including a cutmovable relative to the cutter, a crank for turning the wheel'and a thrust means for effecting relative movement between the wheel and the cutter; an oscillatable arm operatively coupled short trigger member having a greater length than width, pvotally attached at one end to the arm and extending transversely thereof, said trigger having a portion extended below the arm, means carried by the crank for connection with said extended portion for effecting movement of the arm and crank together as a' unit through a predetermined extent in a circular path, a relatively long shiftable member pvotally attached to the other end of the trigger and extending lengthwise of the arm in line with but away from said trigger portion, an lelement carried by the arm and adapted to be engaged by the other end of the shiftable member for holding the shiftable member against movement longitudinally of the arm and securing the trigger member against oscillation, and a fixed means disposed in the path of movement of the shiftable member to be engaged by the said shiftable member after a predetermined degree of unitary movement of the trigger carrying arm and crank, to eiect the shifting of the shiftable member andv release oi' the trigger member from the crank to permit continued movement of the crank only. 4 4. In a rotary type can opener including a cutter, a rotary can driving wheel movable relative to the cutter, a crank for turning the wheel and a thrust means for effecting relative movement between the wheel and the cutter; an oscillatable arm operatively coupled with said thrust means to actuate the thrust means, a shiftable trigger, said trigger having a length extending transversely of the arm and pvotally attached at one end to the arm, the trigger at the other end being formed to provide a lateral shoulder,l a relatively long member pvotally attached at one end to the arm above said shoulder to lie lengthwise of the arm in line with said shoulder, said member at itsfree end engaging over said shoul der to maintain the trigger against vertical 0scillation, and a xed member lying in the path of movement of said long member to engage and shift the latter out of connection with said shoulder, the trigger having a downwardly extending portion, means carried by the crank for connection with said downwardly extending portion for effecting movement of the arm and the crank with said thrust means to actuate the thrust means, a relatively4 together as a unit through a predetermined extent in a. circular path, said fixed member acting .to shift the said long member after a predetermined degree of unitary movement of the trigger carrying arm and crank to effect disconnection or the trigger from the crank carrying means. permitting continued movement of the crank only.

5. A rotary type can opener as setforth in claim 4, with a ange element carried by the arm and engaged by the shoulder forming means of the trigger to limit the downward swinging 5 movement of the trigger member.

ROBERT E. McLEAN. 

